Electrical connecter cap



Nov. 2, 1937. v J, TH 2,097,603

. ELECTRICAL CONNEbTER CAP Filed Aug. 8, 1936 n91 r1; 23 10 f 12 x l/II/l/l/IAIII VII/l.

1N VENT OR. Jolm 11. Ruth,

1116' ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 2,1937

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to electrical connecting devices, and has particular reference to electrical connecter caps.

One object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described having improved means for securing lead wires to contact elements without requiring the usual individual screws,

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of the nature set forth having a single improved means for reliably securing the lead wires to the contact elements, and with the latter desirably constituting a finger grip or handle portion to effect the engagement.

Another object of the invention is to furnish a device of the character alluded to wherein the contact leads can be rapidly, and with practically a single motion, secured to the contact elements, even by those who are mechanically unskilled, and without the usual difficulty of short circuiting due to stray wires.

A further object is the provision of a device of the type mentioned which is relatively inexpen sive to manufacture, neat, compact, reliable, durable, and eflicient in operation, and particularly rapid in assembling, especially on a quantity production scale.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the specification proceeds. I

With the aforesaid objects in view, the invention consists in the novel combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described in their preferred embodiments, pointed out in the subjoined claims, and illustrated in the annexed drawing, wherein like parts are designated by the same reference characters throughout the several views.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is an'eni'arged view in side elevation,

- with parts removed, showing a device embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof with a part removed.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the device but showing the same in initial lead securing position.

Fig. 4 is a view in vertical section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view in elevation of the device taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3, showing in dot dash lines a lead bent into clamped position.

Fig. 6 is a view corresponding to that of Fig. 5, but showing the contact element advanced and clamping the lead.

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view of the pronged plug portion in removed position.

The advantages of the invention as here outlined are best realized when all of its features and instrumentalities are combined in one and the same structure, but, useful devices may be produced embodying less than the'whole.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, that the same may be incorporated in several difierent constructions. The accompanying drawing, therefore, is submitted merely as showing the pre ferred exemplification of the invention.

Referring in detail to the drawing, Ill denotes a device embodying the invention and representative of any device for connectingleads to contact portions, but here illustratively shown as being in the nature oi an electrical corinecter cap.

The device I0 may comprise insulator means having contact elements or prongs II to which the lead wires I2 of a conductor cord I3 may be individually connected. Said insulator means may comprise a plurality of members, preferably two in number, for clampingly or w'edgingly securing the lead wires to the respective prongs. Certain advantages in assembling are obtained by making the members movable relative to each other to cause releasable clamping of the leads. The movability may be in one or more directions, suitable guide means for the leads may desirably be provided, and, if preferred, the lead wires may suffer a bend in being clamped so as to better withstand a pull that might accidentally be exerted upon the extending length of the electrical cord.

For example, the device I0 may have an axial bore or passage l5 centrally communicating with an open circular recess I6 which may define an annular seat or shoulder I'I, bounded by an annular flange or skirt I8. Intercommunicating the passage I5 with the shoulder H are any suitably arranged angularly spaced openings or passages such as I9, which terminate closely adjacent to the'entrance 20 of the passage I5, and extend into the surface of the shoulder I1.

The device It) mayinclude a second member such as a plug 2| adapted to be secured to the shell ll, for instance, in the upper end of the axial passage I5, the lower end of which may r it upon a suitable small angular movement, with a relatively large axial motion. when screwed tight, the plug 2| may clear the leads I2, so as to avoid cutting the insulation thereon.

The plug 2I may comprise a headed portion 23 adapted to be received within the recess I6 and being desirably sufflciently smaller in diameter than said recess so as to clear the shoulder II. If preferred, a recessing seat 24 mV be formed at the base of the recess iii to partially receive the member.

headed portion 23. In the latter there maybe suitably securedthe prongs II, and contact portions 25 may be provided therefor actuable by the secured to the plug 2 I, it is herein shown as connected thereto by embedment in course of molding the plug, with the prongs projecting in the general direction of the axis thereof and the contact portions projecting at an angle to said axis.

To assure ample latitude for interengagement of the leads I2 with the contact portions 25, the latter may be elongated according to an arcuate form, as particularly indicated by the portions 2511. Hence ample allowance is afforded for variations in the thickness of the lead wires I2. The threads 22 are, of course, in a predetermined relation to the passages I9 to assure proper functioning of the contact portions 25 with respect to the seat I1 for clamping the leads I2 therebetween.

To increase the power of the clamping action on the leads I2, and to render such action eflective for a particularly small angular motion of the plug 2 I, the seat I! may comprise cam or wedging rises at 26, as shown in Fig. 6. If desired, the cam 26 may be radially serrated as indicated at 21. The contact portions may be correspondingly serrated as shown at 26.

The operation of the device ID will now be briefly described. The operator pushes the ex posed leads l2 through the passages I8 simultaneously, until the leads project as shown in Fig. 4. Then the operator appliestheplug 2I and imparts an angular movement thereto, causing the contact portions 25 to strike the projecting portions of the leads I2 to bend and flatten the same downward upon the seat I'I, over which the contact portions ride, and finally causing said leads to be clamped between the contact portions and the seat, with good electrical contact with the former. For convenience, the operator may hold the shell I4 in one hand,- and may manipulate the plug 2| by grasping the prongs II in the other hand. In this manner, the device I0 may be assembled, with practically a single motion so that the assembling is rendered especially advantageous in quantity production, as by electrical fixture concerns. The assembling is also especially easy for those who are mechanically unskilled, since there is no need for any wire to be carefully wound around any screws nor any manipulation of a screw driver required. In fact, with conventional connecter caps, the wires must be manipulated about the screws inside of the caps; with this invention, when the plug 2I is removed there is full and free access to the wires, and in fact, no handling thereofis necessary, because the contact portions 25 bend and clamp the wlress Also due to the ample radial spacing between the wires, there is no possibility of acci- While the same may be variouslydental short circuiting, as by'str'ay wires, if any reasonable care is used. The bend in each wire or lead as at 29, in Fig. 6, helps to secure the same against anypoll that may be accidentally exfirst member having a. pair of spaced passages extending in the general axial direction ofthemember and terminating in a seating means at an end of the first member, a second member having spaced contact prongs fixed thereon, said members having threaded means for axially interconnecting the same in response to a relativeangular movement therebetween, each prong having a contact portion which, in initial assembly relation, is angularly spaced relative to the adjacent end of the co-operating passage and axially spaced relative to the seating means at the adjacent endof the cooperating passage, to permit bared conductor wires to be passed through said passages to freely project beyond said seating means and alongside of the second member, said contact portions being adapted to move across andbeyond the adjacent ends of said passages'and into contact with the seating means upon relative angular movement between the members in one direction, said contact portions thus bending the projecting wire ends over the seating means to clamp the wire ends, the threaded means being so coordinated with the contact portions and the seating means as to cause the contact portions to clamp the wire ends in relatively close proximity to the said passages, whereby the wires can be operatively secured to the connecter without disassembling the latter.

2. An electrical connecter fitting including a shell member having a chamber having a seating means at the base thereof and angularly spaced passages having their inner ends at the seating means, a one piece plug member having spaced electrical contact prongs fixed thereon, said members having a thread axially interengaging the members for adjustable relative axial and angular motion between the members with the plug member positioned in the said chamber, the plug member affording free spaces adapted to confront said passages, the contact prongs having inner contact portions confronting the seating means at the inner ends of said passages, whereby relative axial and angular movement between the members causes the contact portions to move about the axis of said members to bend over and clamp the bared ends of conductor wires threaded through said passages into said spaces, the said thread serving to hold the members axially tight to maintain the said clamped condition of the wire ends.

3. An electrical connecter fitting according to claim 1, wherein the said contact portions of the prongs are slightly yieldable relative to the second member to cause a gradually increasing clamping action on the conductor wires.

' JOHN H. RUTH. 

